Welcoming contemporary visual artists to Central Crete

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Ivana almost immediately decided that she wanted to work around the Byzantine churches in the area. The result was a series of temporary installations by the general title Fire. The main one was done with traditional blankets woven by local women. The blankets were placed outside of iconic Arkadi Monastery, in the shape of a flame each, symbolising the fire of revolution and sacrifice that took place there in 1866. The rest of the installations were in smaller churches, using written messages as Fire, Flame and Burn on old neon signs, corresponding to Birth, Life and Death.

First acquaintance with the area…

Ivana immediately decided to work with the Byzantine churches in the area

So we showed her around a few of them

We also researched traditionally woven blankets

Ivana is being given a private tour at the Monastery of Arkadi

Research had to go on. Old women showed us the blankets they had woven when they were young

In the city of Rethymno looking for used neon signs

Starting to work on the first installation…

…and moving on to another location

Collecting the blankets for the major installation at Arkadi Monastery

Arriving on location…

…and starting to set up the installation

Each blanket symbolising a flame…

…like those of the historic holocaust in Arkadi

Installation finished!

The colours and designs of the blankets are amazing!

Working on the sign installations…

…in different locations

Workshop day!

Graffiti with strong messages

Brushes, fingers, whatever gets the job done!

Unexpectedly artistic results

Working in groups on several walls…

…and different styles

Closing the residency with an artist talk at the Museum of Contemporary Art of Crete in Rethymno